Suspilne Crimea talks about the goals of the Crimean platform, and how other states related at the level of presidents,to it.

What is the Crimean platform?

The Crimean Platform is a diplomatic initiative of Ukraine, in the future an international coordination mechanism to return the issue of Crimea to the agenda, protect human rights in Crimea and promote the deoccupation of the peninsula.

The purpose of the platform is to seek the deoccupation of the Crimean peninsula with the help of international organizations and world leaders.

When and how did the idea of ​​creating the Crimean platform arise?

On September 23, 2020, during the debate at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, the President of Ukraine V. Zelensky presented the concept of the Crimean Platform and invited international partners to join this initiative to unite efforts to deoccupy Crimea. During the Ukraine-EU summit on October 6, the European Union reaffirmed its readiness for such an initiative.

In March 2021, Volodymyr Zelensky approved a strategy for the deoccupation and reintegration of Crimea. His decree provided for the establishment of an organizing committee for the preparation and holding of the founding summit of the Crimean platform. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba became the chairman of the organizing committee. The decree focuses on the Crimean platform as a key tool:

«81. Ukraine establishes and develops the Crimean Platform as a key foreign policy tool to consolidate international efforts to deoccupy and restore Ukraine's territorial integrity, overcome the consequences of the Russian Federation's temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, and protect the rights of Ukrainian citizens and citizens.

92. Ukraine is initiating an international negotiation process to determine the modalities for the liberation of the temporarily occupied territory and the restoration of Ukraine's constitutional order, based in particular on the provisions of the Memorandum on Security Guarantees in connection with Ukraine's accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. the results of the Crimean platform. "

The founding summit of the Crimean Platform will take place on August 23, at which it is planned to adopt the final document - a charter or a declaration. This document will be open before signing and after the summit.

What is the main goal and objectives of the platform?

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has identified five expected priorities for the Crimean Platform negotiation platform.

"First, security, including freedom of navigation. Second, ensuring the effectiveness of sanctions against the aggressor state. Third, the protection of human rights and international humanitarian law. Fourth, protection of educational, cultural and religious rights. Fifth, overcoming the negative impact of the temporary occupation of Crimea on the economy and the environment", - Dmytro Kuleba said.

Negotiations will be conducted in five key areas:

• the policy of non-recognition of the attempt to annex Crimea to Russia,
• expansion and strengthening of international sanctions against Russia,
• international security,
• Human Rights,
• the impact of occupation on the economy and the environment

Special attention on the Crimean platform will be paid to the issue of Crimean political prisoners on the occupied peninsula.

According to Kyiv's plan, the Crimean platform will operate permanently. Four formats of its work are planned: presidential, foreign ministers, deputy and expert. The intergovernmental level will act in the form of consultations of foreign ministers, coordination meetings of specialized working groups on priority areas, conferences. In particular, it is possible to establish an annual forum dedicated to the security of the wider Black Sea region and beyond.

The Crimean Platform is also expected to be represented in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The site will remain operational until the peninsula returns to Ukrainian control.

Which countries and international organizations support the Crimean platform?

Representatives of 46 countries and organizations will take part in the Crimean Platform summit to be held in Kyiv on August 23 in the Parkovy conference hall.

• At the level of presidents, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova, Slovenia and Finland will visit Ukraine. The President of the European Council will also be one of the delegates.
• At the level of prime ministers: Romania, Georgia, Croatia, Sweden.
• At the level of heads of parliament: Switzerland and the Czech Republic.
• At the level of Foreign Ministers: Turkey, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ireland, Denmark, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia.
• At the level of the heads of the Ministry of Defense: Great Britain and Portugal.
• The United States will be represented by the Secretary of Energy.
• Norway will be represented by the Secretary of State.
• Iceland and Albania will be represented by their ambassadors to Ukraine.

Thus, all NATO member countries will be present at the meeting.